Dell releases Precision T3400 with new Intel backbone

Dell today upped the ante for its mainstream workstations with the Precision T3400. Abandoning the old naming scheme, the new model is also based on Intel's latest X38 chipset and pushes system bus speeds up to 1,333MHz for newer Core 2 Duo and Extreme chips while also speeding up access to other components and improving the memory ceiling. Users running a 64-bit version of Windows Vista or XP can run as much as 8GB of memory, the Texas PC maker says. While low-cost enough to be used even at home, the Precision also has the option of quad-core CPUs and workstation graphics cards up to NVIDIA's GeForce 8-based Quadro FX 4600.

A single chassis is available but doubles both as a mid-tower and as a desktop when tilted on its side; the external drive bays can be rearranged to keep any optical drives horizontal in the new layout, Dell notes. Specifications for the updated Precision were unavailable as of press time but should start at $1,000 with 1GB of memory, a Core 2 Duo, and integrated graphics. Systems will be available later today and should ship within the next several days.